Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-08-12
Communicated
HoME, Aug. 10th, 1887

venture, OF rather experience, through
which passed a few nights ago. Bat
first must insist upon your keeping my
name profound secret, as | do not wish
to be laughed aud ieered at 10y all the
incredulOus and many Of the credulous
also, for ] find that numbers wh) firmly
believe in their secret souls in the super
natural are in the habit of denying and
laughing at the very mention of such
things in the presence of Others. | am
not of this kind myself for | confess !
have always had strain of superstition
running through my composition, doubt
less Inherited from my mother who was
somewhat inclined that way, while my
father went through long life soothing at
everything Of the kind, in fact, lie would
soon grow angry at what he called such
ridiculous foo.isAuess. Bat You must not
think that was or am a believer in
Ghosts, &c. | can best describe it by say
ing that have always experienced feel
inc Of awe and dread in the presence Of
death, or when passing a grave yard or
other SHADY" spot alone at night But !
was no believer in gh osts, gobins, fairies
or ANYTHING of the kind and had never
seen or heard the least thing that could
be twisted or distorted into the sembance
of a being from another world. But !
linrer too long in the ves;bule. 1t is
we'll known to most OF the people living
in the vicinity Of the Old Forge Church,
about mile and half from Edinburg, on
Stony Creek, that for many years, as far
hack "a the memory Of the oldest person
oftbat section runs, there has been strange
and unexplanable manifestations in the
grave ward around the church at night,
and consequently the place is avoided
after night, while the belatcd traveller
hurries by as quickly as possible aud the
heart of even the most skeptical beats
faster than usual until be feels at n safe
distance. On the above mentioned night
I was slowly approaching the church per
hitting my horse 10 take his own gate,
while nv mind was busy with pleasant
thoughts, having recently left the socic-
ty of some very attractive young ladies
where | had spent several hours most
acreeably. The night was lovely one
Tho moon, nearly full was riding high in
the heavens, flooding the earth with
radiant beauty that made the fields and
woods look like scene from fairyland.-
Light. feecy clouds were sailing across
the face of the moon causing Tippics OF
Iobt and shade TO chase each other like
sportive children over hill and dale. In
this pleasant mood, musing on the beauty
of the night as well as that Of the ladies'
bad lust left. approached the old church
without the shadow of gho'tly Thought
in nv mind. when suddenly my attention
was attracted by tho singular actions OF
NV dog, noble brute who bad always
nroyed himself strong as lion and per
fectly fearless in the presence Of danger.
He had been trotting along before me, oc-
casionally stopping for my slow walking
horse to catch up. Suddenly be stopped
and threw mp his head gazing fXediy at
the old grave yard then but few yards
before him He remained perfectly mo-
tionless IN this position for few mo-
ments. and then with a strange low,
smothored howl he turned and came back
toward me as swiftly as he could in the
singular position he had assumed, for he
was fairly crouching down and dragging
himself on the ground as ifto hide him.
self from the sight Of something. When
he reached me he was picture Of the
most abject terror. His ears hung limp
his tail dropped between his legs, while
every single hair of his body stood straight
forward. He fairly crouched under the
horses feet seemingly entirely forgetiul
of danger from that source, all the While
keeping NJ the most pitiful whine ever
heard He seemed to be 20 terribly fright
ened that he bad lost all his noble in~
stincts and was begging me to take him
away from that place, he apparently be-
ing unable. through the sheer agony Of
fright, to drag himself away. Knowing
! the dog as did, his indomitable courage
and tremendous strength, his willingness,
aye, eagerness, to grapple with either man
or devil, confess that his fright became
contagious, and began 10 feel that sell
satiOn Of the scalp as If your hair was
standing on end aud your hat was being
slowly lifted from your head. But as yet
| could hear nothing, see nothing as in
tently peered at the grave yard IN front
of me, save the white tombstones Of the
dead as they cleaned pale and CHASTITY in
the waves Of moonlight as they rapidly
chased each other IN the wake of the
cloud shadows SO far my horse had
shown no symptoms of fear, as no stood
contentedly in the road making no move
ment except to stamp at the flies OCCASION
ally. My first impulse was to turn back
and | confess that | would in all probabil
ity have done so had il not been for the
unconcerned demeanor Of my horse. This,
with a sense of shame at the thought Of
running away from what could not see,
determined me to 90 forward. Ny horse
stepped of briskly and in q few moments
was opposite the grave yard, with my
dog, still keeping up his strange whine
close at the horses heels. Just at this
moment, as if nature herself was in league
with the spirits around, dark cloud
crossed the moon completely shutting ont
the light and causing shadow dark as q
funeral pail TO cover the earth. AZ
strained my eyes could see little balls
of pale Blush light dancing through the
intense darkness. My poor dog uttered
howl of terror that was suddenly drowned
in the most fearful agonlzing shrek that
ever smote on mortaPs ear. 1t seemed to
split the air like the keen edge of razor.
As it rolled over me IN waves of sound
such as no demon from the very bottom
of perdtions pit could utter, my terror
stricken horse fairly dropped to the GROUND
and then made an effort to escape from
the hellish spot. But the poor brut'
could only reel and stagger like drunk
, en- man, while his breath came in labored
broken sobs that were almost human II
their agony. As shrek followed shrek
such as the widest maniac Of
mad.house never uttered, wit
, bursting brain / sank half taintlnI
on my horses neck just as gigantic han
reached over the fence from the gray
yard into the road filling it from side t
side. Tho enormous fingers, around ant
= over which fickered pale phosphore'